I am aware of the findings of the Amnesty International report on Nepal and would like to make a statement on the matter.
A rebellion against the monarchy of Nepal, led by the extreme left-wing Nepal Communist Party, Maoists, has been ongoing since 1996. The insurgency has, to date, claimed approximately 10,000 lives. The rebels are fighting to abolish the constitutional monarchy and establish a socialist state in the Himalayan kingdom. It is estimated that more than 40% of the country is now under Maoist control.
After consultations with other political parties on 26 November 2001, the Nepalese Government declared a state of emergency and termed the Maoists as terrorists. The King also approved mobilisation of the army in an effort to counter the insurgency. On 29 January 2003, a ceasefire was declared by the Nepalese Government and the Maoist rebels. The ceasefire proposed to lead to further negotiations between the government and the Maoists, and eventually to free and fair elections.
On 13 March 2003, Nepal's Government and the rebels agreed to release all prisoners of war and announced guidelines for peace talks. Three rounds of peace talks took place on 27 April, 9 May and 17-19 August 2003, but the process collapsed on 27 August 2003 when the Maoists stated they were withdrawing from the ceasefire because agreements reached had not been implemented and because the government would not agree to its demands, including setting up a constituent assembly. Fighting has continued since 2004. On 1 February 2005, King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev dismissed the country's government and declared a state of emergency. EU heads of mission in Kathmandu are currently assessing the situation and will report back to member states. Together with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, is increasingly concerned at the deteriorating situation in Nepal, particularly in the human rights area. An EU Troika of Regional Directors visited Nepal from 13-15 December 2004 to convey EU concerns to the Nepalese authorities. The Troika met King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and then Prime Minister Deuba, as well as with representatives of the Royal Nepalese Army and civil society. The Troika emphasised the need for all parties to pursue a political solution through negotiations between all sides and assured the Nepalese authorities of EU support for a peace process. The Troika also expressed grave concern at the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Nepal and reminded all sides of their obligations under both Nepali and international law. It further expressed the EU's support for the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and stated that the intimidation of human rights defenders was unacceptable. Since the Troika visit, the EU has asked EU heads of mission in Kathmandu to report on the current situation in Nepal, including on human rights.
The situation of human rights in Nepal was addressed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights at its 60th session in 2004. Together with our EU partners, we are currently considering the most effective form of action for the commission to adopt at this year's session.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNHCHR, Ms Louise Arbour, visited Nepal from 23-26 January 2005 to assess the human rights situation there. The UNHCHR expressed concern at the alarming and growing number of human rights abuses and called on the government to act in compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law. She further called on the Nepalese Government and Maoist rebels to facilitate the work of the National Human Rights Commission and called for full and unhindered access to places of detention. The UNHCHR also urged the Maoist rebels to engage with the people of Nepal through reasoned argument in a democratic arena and to pursue their objectives in compliance with international law.
Ireland, together with its EU partners, will continue to follow closely the situation in Nepal and to encourage both sides to pursue a peaceful, political solution and respect for human rights.